The results of civic polls in some of the biggest cities of Maharashtra have returned stupendous success for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The results have not only once again stamped Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s growing popularity but also significantly signaled the coming of age of state’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state. More importantly, the civic polls results have also belied claims that demonetisation would negatively affect BJP’s poll chances.
Just before the polls, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena had snapped ties with the BJP to fight it alone. Uddhav not only nurtured the ambition of beating anti-incumbency in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls but also running it solo. The results have not only shattered Uddhav’s dream but also proved that all the venom he tried to spread against PM Modi’s demonetisation decision and the BJP in the run-up to the polls couldn’t sway people’s opinion in the favor of Sena. For the record, BJP scored its biggest ever win in the BMC election with 81 seats out of 227 and was just three seats behind Sena’s 84. Not only, with the four independents deciding to join BJP after the results, BJP has emerged as the largest party in BMC. In 2012, BJP had won just 31 seats and Sena 75.
In an article published in Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the party had compared the note ban ‘atom bomb’. On several occasions, Thackeray had asked as to what purpose the demonetisation had served. The BJP has been clear in its stand from the start that demonetisation was a short-term programme for long-term gains. The economic gains may be visible in the long run, it is certain that note ban has brought political gains for the BJP in a big way, especially in Maharashtra. The party would be hoping for the same in Uttar Pradesh as well.
The senior saffron party has also gained big in other civic bodies of Maharashtra. While in Nagpur and Nashik the party was all set to win the majority until the last counts came, the BJP was also leading in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
Talking about the BJP’s successes after demonetisation, PM Modi today tried to draw a parallel between the fog in December last year, when his planned rally in Bahraich could not be completed because of adverse weather, and the recent successes of his party. It was also the same time when a lot of confusion and rumours on demonetisation doing the rounds. For once, it seemed situation may go out of control for the government. PM Modi recalled those days in his own style today at a rally in Bahraich, “I wanted to come here earlier but there was a lot of fog. Now everything is clear. Everywhere there is a BJP wave.”
